1
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Zhou Z, Li T, Li J, Lin W, Zheng Q. Exosomal transfer of HCC-derived miR-17-5p downregulates NK cell function by targeting RUNX1-NKG2D axis. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 136:112361. [PMID: 38820961 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Natural killer (NK) cells are an integral part of the staunch defense line against malignant tumors within the tumor microenvironment. Existing research indicates that miRNAs can influence the development of NK cells by negatively modulating gene expression. In this study, we aim to explore how the miR-17-5p in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) exosomes regulates the killing function of NK cells towards HCC cells through the transcription factor RNX1. METHODS The exosomes were isolated from HCC tissues and cell lines, followed by a second generation sequencing to compare differential miRNAs. Verification was performed using qRT-PCR and Western blot methods. The mutual interactions between miR-17-5p and RUNX1, as well as between RUNX1 and NKG2D, were authenticated using techniques like luciferase reporter gene assays, Western blotting, and Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP). The cytotoxic activity of NK cells towards HCC cells in vitro was measured using methods such as RTCA and ELISPOT. The zebrafish xenotransplantation was utilized to assess the in vivo killing capacity of NK cells against HCC cells. RESULTS The level of miR-17-5p in exosomes from HCC tissue increased compared to adjacent tissues. We verified that RUNX1 was a target of miR-17-5p and that RUNX1 enhances the transcription of NKG2D. MiR-17-5p was found to downregulate the expression of RUNX1 and NKG2D, subsequently reducing the in vitro and in vivo cytotoxic capabilities of NK cells against HCC cells. CONCLUSIONS The miR-17-5p found within HCC exosomes can target RUNX1, subsequently attenuating the cytotoxic activity of NK cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhifeng Zhou
- Laboratory of Immuno-Oncology, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou 350014, China; School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhu, Fujian, China
| | - Tianchuan Li
- Department of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou 350014, China
| | - Jieyu Li
- Laboratory of Immuno-Oncology, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou 350014, China; School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhu, Fujian, China
| | - Wansong Lin
- Laboratory of Immuno-Oncology, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou 350014, China; School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhu, Fujian, China.
| | - Qingfeng Zheng
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou 350014, China.
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2
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El Omar R, Abdellaoui N, Coulibaly ST, Fontenille L, Lanza F, Gachet C, Freund JN, Negroni M, Kissa K, Tavian M. Macrophage depletion overcomes human hematopoietic cell engraftment failure in zebrafish embryo. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:305. [PMID: 38693109 PMCID: PMC11063059 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06682-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Zebrafish is widely adopted as a grafting model for studying human development and diseases. Current zebrafish xenotransplantations are performed using embryo recipients, as the adaptive immune system, responsible for host versus graft rejection, only reaches maturity at juvenile stage. However, transplanted primary human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSC) rapidly disappear even in zebrafish embryos, suggesting that another barrier to transplantation exists before the onset of adaptive immunity. Here, using a labelled macrophage zebrafish line, we demonstrated that engraftment of human HSC induces a massive recruitment of macrophages which rapidly phagocyte transplanted cells. Macrophages depletion, by chemical or pharmacological treatments, significantly improved the uptake and survival of transplanted cells, demonstrating the crucial implication of these innate immune cells for the successful engraftment of human cells in zebrafish. Beyond identifying the reasons for human hematopoietic cell engraftment failure, this work images the fate of human cells in real time over several days in macrophage-depleted zebrafish embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reine El Omar
- University of Strasbourg, INSERM, EFS Grand-Est, BPPS UMR-S1255, Strasbourg, France
- Université de Lorraine, CITHEFOR, F-54505, Vandoeuvre Les Nancy, France
| | | | - Safiatou T Coulibaly
- University of Strasbourg, CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, UPR 9002, Strasbourg, France
- ITI Innovec, Strasbourg, France
| | | | - François Lanza
- University of Strasbourg, INSERM, EFS Grand-Est, BPPS UMR-S1255, Strasbourg, France
| | - Christian Gachet
- University of Strasbourg, INSERM, EFS Grand-Est, BPPS UMR-S1255, Strasbourg, France
| | - Jean-Noel Freund
- ITI Innovec, Strasbourg, France
- University of Strasbourg, INSERM, IRFAC/UMR-S1113, Strasbourg, France
- INSERM, U1256 - NGERE, Université de Lorraine, 54500, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Matteo Negroni
- University of Strasbourg, CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, UPR 9002, Strasbourg, France
- ITI Innovec, Strasbourg, France
| | - Karima Kissa
- University of Montpellier, VBIC, INSERM U1047, Montpellier, France
- AZELEAD SAS, Montpellier, France
| | - Manuela Tavian
- University of Strasbourg, INSERM, EFS Grand-Est, BPPS UMR-S1255, Strasbourg, France.
- ITI Innovec, Strasbourg, France.
- University of Strasbourg, INSERM, IRFAC/UMR-S1113, Strasbourg, France.
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3
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Roy D, Subramaniam B, Chong WC, Bornhorst M, Packer RJ, Nazarian J. Zebrafish-A Suitable Model for Rapid Translation of Effective Therapies for Pediatric Cancers. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1361. [PMID: 38611039 PMCID: PMC11010887 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16071361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Pediatric cancers are the leading cause of disease-related deaths in children and adolescents. Most of these tumors are difficult to treat and have poor overall survival. Concerns have also been raised about drug toxicity and long-term detrimental side effects of therapies. In this review, we discuss the advantages and unique attributes of zebrafish as pediatric cancer models and their importance in targeted drug discovery and toxicity assays. We have also placed a special focus on zebrafish models of pediatric brain cancers-the most common and difficult solid tumor to treat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debasish Roy
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC 20012, USA; (D.R.)
| | - Bavani Subramaniam
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC 20012, USA; (D.R.)
| | - Wai Chin Chong
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC 20012, USA; (D.R.)
| | - Miriam Bornhorst
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC 20012, USA; (D.R.)
| | - Roger J. Packer
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC 20012, USA; (D.R.)
| | - Javad Nazarian
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC 20012, USA; (D.R.)
- DIPG/DMG Research Center Zurich, Children’s Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, University Children’s Hospital Zürich, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland
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4
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Zhan T, Song W, Jing G, Yuan Y, Kang N, Zhang Q. Zebrafish live imaging: a strong weapon in anticancer drug discovery and development. Clin Transl Oncol 2024:10.1007/s12094-024-03406-7. [PMID: 38514602 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-024-03406-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Developing anticancer drugs is a complex and time-consuming process. The inability of current laboratory models to reflect important aspects of the tumor in vivo limits anticancer medication research. Zebrafish is a rapid, semi-automated in vivo screening platform that enables the use of non-invasive imaging methods to monitor morphology, survival, developmental status, response to drugs, locomotion, or other behaviors. Zebrafish models are widely used in drug discovery and development for anticancer drugs, especially in conjunction with live imaging techniques. Herein, we concentrated on the use of zebrafish live imaging in anticancer therapeutic research, including drug screening, efficacy assessment, toxicity assessment, and mechanism studies. Zebrafish live imaging techniques have been used in numerous studies, but this is the first time that these techniques have been comprehensively summarized and compared side by side. Finally, we discuss the hypothesis of Zebrafish Composite Model, which may provide future directions for zebrafish imaging in the field of cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiancheng Zhan
- School of Medical Technology, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Rd, Jinghai District, Tianjin, 301617, People's Republic of China
- School of Integrative Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
| | - Wanqian Song
- School of Medical Technology, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Rd, Jinghai District, Tianjin, 301617, People's Republic of China
- School of Integrative Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
| | - Guo Jing
- School of Medical Technology, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Rd, Jinghai District, Tianjin, 301617, People's Republic of China
- School of Integrative Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongkang Yuan
- School of Medical Technology, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Rd, Jinghai District, Tianjin, 301617, People's Republic of China
| | - Ning Kang
- School of Medical Technology, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Rd, Jinghai District, Tianjin, 301617, People's Republic of China.
| | - Qiang Zhang
- School of Medical Technology, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Rd, Jinghai District, Tianjin, 301617, People's Republic of China.
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5
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Kuttikrishnan S, Hasan M, Prabhu KS, El-Elimat T, Oberlies NH, Pearce CJ, Alali FQ, Ahmad A, Pourkarimi E, Bhat AA, Yalcin HC, Uddin S. Exploring the in vivo anti-cancer potential of Neosetophomone B in leukemic cells using a zebrafish xenograft model. Exp Cell Res 2024; 435:113907. [PMID: 38184222 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2023.113907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
Neosetophomone B (NSP-B) is a unique meroterpenoid fungal secondary metabolite that has previously demonstrated promising anti-cancer properties against various cancer cell lines in vitro. However, its in vivo anti-cancer potential remaines unexplored. To fill this gap in our knowledge, we tested NSP-B's in vivo anti-cancer activity using a zebrafish model, an organism that has gained significant traction in biomedical research due to its genetic similarities with humans and its transparent nature, allowing real-time tumor growth observation. For our experiments, we employed the K562-injected zebrafish xenograft model. Upon treating these zebrafish with NSP-B, we observed a marked reduction in the size and number of tumor xenografts. Delving deeper, our analyses indicated that NSP-B curtailed tumor growth and proliferation of leukemic grafted xenograft within the zebrafish. These results show that NSP-B possesses potent in vivo anti-cancer properties, making it a potential novel therapeutic agent for addressing hematological malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilpa Kuttikrishnan
- Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, 3050, Qatar; College of Pharmacy, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Maram Hasan
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
| | - Kirti S Prabhu
- Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, 3050, Qatar
| | - Tamam El-Elimat
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Nicholas H Oberlies
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, United States
| | | | - Feras Q Alali
- College of Pharmacy, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Aamir Ahmad
- Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, 3050, Qatar; Dermatology Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ehsan Pourkarimi
- Division of Genomics and Translational Medicine, College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ajaz A Bhat
- Department of Human Genetics-Precision Medicine in Diabetes, Obesity and Cancer Program, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Huseyin C Yalcin
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar; Department of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Shahab Uddin
- Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, 3050, Qatar; Dermatology Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; Laboratory of Animal Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
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6
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Chen PY, Lin CY, Wu CL, Keak PY, Liou JW, Gao WY, Lin LI, Yen JH. Pinostrobin modulates FOXO3 expression, nuclear localization, and exerts antileukemic effects in AML cells and zebrafish xenografts. Chem Biol Interact 2023; 385:110729. [PMID: 37777166 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2023.110729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a disease characterized by abnormal cell proliferation in the bone marrow and is the most common quickly progressive leukemia in adults. Pinostrobin, a flavonoid phytochemical, has been reported to exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. In this study, we aimed to investigate the antileukemic effects of pinostrobin and its molecular mechanisms in human AML cells. Our study found that pinostrobin (0-80 μM) significantly reduced the viability of human AML cells, with the pronounced cytotoxic effects observed in MV4-11 > MOLM-13 > HL-60 > U-937 > THP-1 cells. Pinostrobin was found to suppress leukemia cell proliferation, modulate cell cycle progression, promote cell apoptosis, and induce monocytic differentiation in MV4-11 cells. In animal studies, pinostrobin significantly suppressed the growth of leukemia cells in a zebrafish xenograft model. Microarray-based transcriptome analysis showed that the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in pinostrobin-treated cells were strongly associated with enriched Gene Ontology (GO) terms related to apoptotic process, cell death, cell differentiation, cell cycle progression, and cell division. Combining DisGeNET and STRING database analysis revealed that pinostrobin upregulates forkhead box 3 (FOXO3), a tumor suppressor in cancer development, and plays an essential role in controlling AML cell viability. Our study demonstrated that pinostrobin increases FOXO3 gene expression and promotes its nuclear translocation, leading to the inhibition of cell growth. Finally, the study found that pinostrobin, when combined with cytarabine, synergistically reduces the viability of AML cells. Our current findings shed light on pinostrobin's mechanisms in inhibiting leukemia cell growth, highlighting its potential as a chemotherapeutic agent or nutraceutical supplement for AML prevention or treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Yi Chen
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Genetic Counseling Center, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien, 970374, Taiwan; Department of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, 970374, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Yen Lin
- Department of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, 970374, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Ling Wu
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Genetic Counseling Center, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien, 970374, Taiwan
| | - Pei Ying Keak
- Department of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, 970374, Taiwan
| | - Je-Wen Liou
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, 970374, Taiwan
| | - Wan-Yun Gao
- Institute of Medical Sciences, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, 970374, Taiwan
| | - Liang-In Lin
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10048, Taiwan
| | - Jui-Hung Yen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, 970374, Taiwan; Institute of Medical Sciences, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, 970374, Taiwan.
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7
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Wang W, Li Y, Lin K, Wang X, Tu Y, Zhuo Z. Progress in building clinically relevant patient-derived tumor xenograft models for cancer research. Animal Model Exp Med 2023; 6:381-398. [PMID: 37679891 PMCID: PMC10614132 DOI: 10.1002/ame2.12349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Patient-derived tumor xenograft (PDX) models, a method involving the surgical extraction of tumor tissues from cancer patients and subsequent transplantation into immunodeficient mice, have emerged as a pivotal approach in translational research, particularly in advancing precision medicine. As the first stage of PDX development, the patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) models implant tumor tissue in mice in the corresponding anatomical locations of the patient. The PDOX models have several advantages, including high fidelity to the original tumor, heightened drug sensitivity, and an elevated rate of successful transplantation. However, the PDOX models present significant challenges, requiring advanced surgical techniques and resource-intensive imaging technologies, which limit its application. And then, the humanized mouse models, as well as the zebrafish models, were developed. Humanized mouse models contain a human immune environment resembling the tumor and immune system interplay. The humanized mouse models are a hot topic in PDX model research. Regarding zebrafish patient-derived tumor xenografts (zPDX) and patient-derived organoids (PDO) as promising models for studying cancer and drug discovery, zPDX models are used to transplant tumors into zebrafish as novel personalized medical animal models with the advantage of reducing patient waiting time. PDO models provide a cost-effective approach for drug testing that replicates the in vivo environment and preserves important tumor-related information for patients. The present review highlights the functional characteristics of each new phase of PDX and provides insights into the challenges and prospective developments in this rapidly evolving field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weijing Wang
- Department of Clinical MedicineShantou University Medical CollegeShantouChina
| | - Yongshu Li
- College of Life SciencesHubei Normal UniversityHuangshiChina
- Shenzhen Institute for Technology InnovationNational Institute of MetrologyShenzhenChina
| | - Kaida Lin
- Department of Clinical MedicineShantou University Medical CollegeShantouChina
| | - Xiaokang Wang
- Department of PharmacyShenzhen Longhua District Central HospitalShenzhenChina
| | - Yanyang Tu
- Research Center, Huizhou Central People's HospitalGuangdong Medical UniversityHuizhou CityChina
| | - Zhenjian Zhuo
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, School of Chemical Biology and BiotechnologyPeking University Shenzhen Graduate SchoolShenzhenChina
- Laboratory Animal Center, School of Chemical Biology and BiotechnologyPeking University Shenzhen Graduate SchoolShenzhenChina
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8
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Massa C, Seliger B. Combination of multiple omics techniques for a personalized therapy or treatment selection. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1258013. [PMID: 37828984 PMCID: PMC10565668 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1258013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite targeted therapies and immunotherapies have revolutionized the treatment of cancer patients, only a limited number of patients have long-term responses. Moreover, due to differences within cancer patients in the tumor mutational burden, composition of the tumor microenvironment as well as of the peripheral immune system and microbiome, and in the development of immune escape mechanisms, there is no "one fit all" therapy. Thus, the treatment of patients must be personalized based on the specific molecular, immunologic and/or metabolic landscape of their tumor. In order to identify for each patient the best possible therapy, different approaches should be employed and combined. These include (i) the use of predictive biomarkers identified on large cohorts of patients with the same tumor type and (ii) the evaluation of the individual tumor with "omics"-based analyses as well as its ex vivo characterization for susceptibility to different therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Massa
- Institute for Translational Immunology, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany
| | - Barbara Seliger
- Institute for Translational Immunology, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig, Germany
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9
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Žmudová Z, Šanderová Z, Liegertová M, Vinopal S, Herma R, Sušický L, Müllerová M, Strašák T, Malý J. Biodistribution and toxicity assessment of methoxyphenyl phosphonium carbosilane dendrimers in 2D and 3D cell cultures of human cancer cells and zebrafish embryos. Sci Rep 2023; 13:15477. [PMID: 37726330 PMCID: PMC10509138 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-42850-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The consideration of human and environmental exposure to dendrimers, including cytotoxicity, acute toxicity, and cell and tissue accumulation, is essential due to their significant potential for various biomedical applications. This study aimed to evaluate the biodistribution and toxicity of a novel methoxyphenyl phosphonium carbosilane dendrimer, a potential mitochondria-targeting vector for cancer therapeutics, in 2D and 3D cancer cell cultures and zebrafish embryos. We assessed its cytotoxicity (via MTT, ATP, and Spheroid growth inhibition assays) and cellular biodistribution. The dendrimer cytotoxicity was higher in cancer cells, likely due to its specific targeting to the mitochondrial compartment. In vivo studies using zebrafish demonstrated dendrimer distribution within the vascular and gastrointestinal systems, indicating a biodistribution profile that may be beneficial for systemic therapeutic delivery strategies. The methoxyphenyl phosphonium carbosilane dendrimer shows promise for applications in cancer cell delivery, but additional studies are required to confirm these findings using alternative labelling methods and more physiologically relevant models. Our results contribute to the growing body of evidence supporting the potential of carbosilane dendrimers as vectors for cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuzana Žmudová
- CENAB, Faculty of Science, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí Nad Labem, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Zuzana Šanderová
- CENAB, Faculty of Science, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí Nad Labem, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Michaela Liegertová
- CENAB, Faculty of Science, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí Nad Labem, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic.
| | - Stanislav Vinopal
- CENAB, Faculty of Science, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí Nad Labem, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Regina Herma
- CENAB, Faculty of Science, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí Nad Labem, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Luděk Sušický
- CENAB, Faculty of Science, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí Nad Labem, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Monika Müllerová
- CENAB, Faculty of Science, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí Nad Labem, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
- Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals of the CAS, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Strašák
- CENAB, Faculty of Science, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí Nad Labem, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
- Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals of the CAS, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Malý
- CENAB, Faculty of Science, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí Nad Labem, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
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10
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Lu Y, Huang P, Zeng X, Liu W, Zhao R, Li J, Cao G, Hu Y, Xiao Q, Wu M, Huang W, Tang X, Liu X, Wei H. Inhibition of FNDC1 suppresses gastric cancer progression by interfering with Gβγ-VEGFR2 complex formation. iScience 2023; 26:107534. [PMID: 37670789 PMCID: PMC10475477 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) is a prevalent digestive tract malignant tumor characterized by an insidious onset, ease of metastasis, rapid growth, and poor prognosis. Here, we report that fibronectin type III domain containing 1 (FNDC1) has high expression in GC and indicates poor outcomes in patients with GC. FNDC1 over-expression or knockdown promotes or inhibits tumorigenesis and metastasis, respectively. The expression of FNDC1 is upregulated by TWIST1, strengthening its interaction with Gβγ and VEGFR2. The formation of the trimers, TWIST1 plus Gβγ and VEGFR2, increases VEGFR2 phosphorylation and Gβγ trafficking, which activates RAS-MAPK and PI3K-AKT signaling, benefiting GC progression. In this study, we demonstrated that arsenite can efficiently suppress FNDC1 expression, attenuating the formation of the trimers and downstream pathways. Altogether, our results indicate that FNDC1 might be a promising target for clinical treatment and prognostic judgment, while FNDC1 inhibition by arsenite provides a new opportunity for overcoming this fatal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Lu
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
- School of Basic Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi 341000, China
| | - Panpan Huang
- School of Basic Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi 341000, China
| | - Xueliang Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi 341000, China
| | - Wenyu Liu
- School of Basic Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi 341000, China
| | - Rui Zhao
- School of Basic Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi 341000, China
| | - Jing Li
- School of Basic Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi 341000, China
| | - Gaolu Cao
- School of Basic Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi 341000, China
| | - Yaqiong Hu
- School of Basic Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi 341000, China
| | - Qiuxiang Xiao
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi 341000, China
| | - Meng Wu
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi 341000, China
| | - Weicai Huang
- School of Basic Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi 341000, China
| | - Xuerui Tang
- School of Basic Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi 341000, China
| | - Xiaojian Liu
- Department of Surgery, Tongxiang First People’s Hospital, Jiaxing, Zhejiang 314500, China
| | - Hulai Wei
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
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11
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Basheer F, Sertori R, Liongue C, Ward AC. Zebrafish: A Relevant Genetic Model for Human Primary Immunodeficiency (PID) Disorders? Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24076468. [PMID: 37047441 PMCID: PMC10095346 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Primary immunodeficiency (PID) disorders, also commonly referred to as inborn errors of immunity, are a heterogenous group of human genetic diseases characterized by defects in immune cell development and/or function. Since these disorders are generally uncommon and occur on a variable background profile of potential genetic and environmental modifiers, animal models are critical to provide mechanistic insights as well as to create platforms to underpin therapeutic development. This review aims to review the relevance of zebrafish as an alternative genetic model for PIDs. It provides an overview of the conservation of the zebrafish immune system and details specific examples of zebrafish models for a multitude of specific human PIDs across a range of distinct categories, including severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), combined immunodeficiency (CID), multi-system immunodeficiency, autoinflammatory disorders, neutropenia and defects in leucocyte mobility and respiratory burst. It also describes some of the diverse applications of these models, particularly in the fields of microbiology, immunology, regenerative biology and oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faiza Basheer
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3216, Australia
- Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3216, Australia
| | - Robert Sertori
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3216, Australia
| | - Clifford Liongue
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3216, Australia
- Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3216, Australia
| | - Alister C Ward
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3216, Australia
- Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3216, Australia
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12
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Li X, Li M. The application of zebrafish patient-derived xenograft tumor models in the development of antitumor agents. Med Res Rev 2023; 43:212-236. [PMID: 36029178 DOI: 10.1002/med.21924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The cost of antitumor drug development is enormous, yet the clinical outcomes are less than satisfactory. Therefore, it is of great importance to develop effective drug screening methods that enable accurate, rapid, and high-throughput discovery of lead compounds in the process of preclinical antitumor drug research. An effective solution is to use the patient-derived xenograft (PDX) tumor animal models, which are applicable for the elucidation of tumor pathogenesis and the preclinical testing of novel antitumor compounds. As a promising screening model organism, zebrafish has been widely applied in the construction of the PDX tumor model and the discovery of antineoplastic agents. Herein, we systematically survey the recent cutting-edge advances in zebrafish PDX models (zPDX) for studies of pathogenesis mechanisms and drug screening. In addition, the techniques used in the construction of zPDX are summarized. The advantages and limitations of the zPDX are also discussed in detail. Finally, the prospects of zPDX in drug discovery, translational medicine, and clinical precision medicine treatment are well presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Li
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Minyong Li
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
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13
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Dudziak K, Nowak M, Sozoniuk M. One Host-Multiple Applications: Zebrafish (Danio rerio) as Promising Model for Studying Human Cancers and Pathogenic Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231810255. [PMID: 36142160 PMCID: PMC9499349 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, zebrafish (ZF) has been increasingly applied as a model in human disease studies, with a particular focus on cancer. A number of advantages make it an attractive alternative for mice widely used so far. Due to the many advantages of zebrafish, modifications can be based on different mechanisms and the induction of human disease can take different forms depending on the research goal. Genetic manipulation, tumor transplantation, or injection of the pathogen are only a few examples of using ZF as a model. Most of the studies are conducted in order to understand the disease mechanism, monitor disease progression, test new or alternative therapies, and select the best treatment. The transplantation of cancer cells derived from patients enables the development of personalized medicine. To better mimic a patient’s body environment, immune-deficient models (SCID) have been developed. A lower immune response is mostly generated by genetic manipulation but also by irradiation or dexamethasone treatment. For many studies, using SCID provides a better chance to avoid cancer cell rejection. In this review, we describe the main directions of using ZF in research, explain why and how zebrafish can be used as a model, what kind of limitations will be met and how to overcome them. We collected recent achievements in this field, indicating promising perspectives for the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Dudziak
- Chair and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-059 Lublin, Poland
- Correspondence: (K.D.); (M.N.)
| | - Michał Nowak
- Institute of Plant Genetics, Breeding and Biotechnology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
- Correspondence: (K.D.); (M.N.)
| | - Magdalena Sozoniuk
- Institute of Plant Genetics, Breeding and Biotechnology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
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14
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Hason M, Jovicic J, Vonkova I, Bojic M, Simon-Vermot T, White RM, Bartunek P. Bioluminescent Zebrafish Transplantation Model for Drug Discovery. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:893655. [PMID: 35559262 PMCID: PMC9086674 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.893655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last decade, zebrafish have accompanied the mouse as a robust animal model for cancer research. The possibility of screening small-molecule inhibitors in a large number of zebrafish embryos makes this model particularly valuable. However, the dynamic visualization of fluorescently labeled tumor cells needs to be complemented by a more sensitive, easy, and rapid mode for evaluating tumor growth in vivo to enable high-throughput screening of clinically relevant drugs. In this study we proposed and validated a pre-clinical screening model for drug discovery by utilizing bioluminescence as our readout for the determination of transplanted cancer cell growth and inhibition in zebrafish embryos. For this purpose, we used NanoLuc luciferase, which ensured rapid cancer cell growth quantification in vivo with high sensitivity and low background when compared to conventional fluorescence measurements. This allowed us large-scale evaluation of in vivo drug responses of 180 kinase inhibitors in zebrafish. Our bioluminescent screening platform could facilitate identification of new small-molecules for targeted cancer therapy as well as for drug repurposing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Hason
- Laboratory of Cell Differentiation, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia
| | - Jovana Jovicic
- Laboratory of Cell Differentiation, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia
| | - Ivana Vonkova
- CZ-OPENSCREEN, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia
| | - Milan Bojic
- CZ-OPENSCREEN, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia
| | - Theresa Simon-Vermot
- Department of Cancer Biology & Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Richard M. White
- Department of Cancer Biology & Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Petr Bartunek
- Laboratory of Cell Differentiation, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia
- CZ-OPENSCREEN, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia
- *Correspondence: Petr Bartunek,
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15
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Lubin A, Otterstrom J, Hoade Y, Bjedov I, Stead E, Whelan M, Gestri G, Paran Y, Payne E. A versatile, automated and high-throughput drug screening platform for zebrafish embryos. Biol Open 2021; 10:bio058513. [PMID: 34472582 PMCID: PMC8430230 DOI: 10.1242/bio.058513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish provide a unique opportunity for drug screening in living animals, with the fast-developing, transparent embryos allowing for relatively high-throughput, microscopy-based screens. However, the limited availability of rapid, flexible imaging and analysis platforms has limited the use of zebrafish in drug screens. We have developed an easy-to-use, customisable automated screening procedure suitable for high-throughput phenotype-based screens of live zebrafish. We utilised the WiScan® Hermes High Content Imaging System to rapidly acquire brightfield and fluorescent images of embryos, and the WiSoft® Athena Zebrafish Application for analysis, which harnesses an Artificial Intelligence-driven algorithm to automatically detect fish in brightfield images, identify anatomical structures, partition the animal into regions and exclusively select the desired side-oriented fish. Our initial validation combined structural analysis with fluorescence images to enumerate GFP-tagged haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells in the tails of embryos, which correlated with manual counts. We further validated this system to assess the effects of genetic mutations and X-ray irradiation in high content using a wide range of assays. Further, we performed simultaneous analysis of multiple cell types using dual fluorophores in high throughput. In summary, we demonstrate a broadly applicable and rapidly customisable platform for high-content screening in zebrafish. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Lubin
- Research Department of Haematology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | | | - Yvette Hoade
- Research Department of Haematology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Ivana Bjedov
- Research Department of Cancer Biology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Eleanor Stead
- Research Department of Cancer Biology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Matthew Whelan
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Gaia Gestri
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6AR, UK
| | - Yael Paran
- IDEA Bio-Medical Ltd., Rehovot 76705, Israel
| | - Elspeth Payne
- Research Department of Haematology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, UK
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